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Apple Store – Best Place To Buy A Mac?
Is the Apple Store the best place to buy a Mac system in your opinion? Am I going to get a better price somewhere else or can I expect to pay the same thing anywhere I shop?
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8 Replies
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Apple is among the very best in the business at managing (controlling) prices and keeping the MSRP of its computers consistent almost everywhere. In fact, they were so good at it up until recently that the Apple Store’s business account discount was by far the best deal around.
However, there are some exceptions to the rules now that the economy is in the toilet, such as at MacMall. And, this week’s Thanksgiving sales aren’t bad either if you look around. The Mac Stores have been told to match any retailer’s published prices this week, but Apple always offers as much resistance as they can, so you’ll need to fight over every dime at the Apple Store.
Also keep in mind that Apple will ream you on ancillary items like extra RAM and hard drives…
David Roth Weiss
Director/Editor
David Weiss Productions, Inc.
Los AngelesPOST-PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE USUAL INSANITY ™
A forum host of Creative COW’s Apple Final Cut Pro, Business & Marketing, and Indie Film & Documentary forums.
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Never hurts to check dealmac.com
Kevin Monahan
http://www.fcpworld.com
Author – Motion Graphics and Effects in Final Cut Pro -
I’ve bought several Mac Pros and laptops from our local Apple store, thinking that maybe it would help if I ever needed quick service, to have spent a lot of money there. But it’s not the case. our Apple store is so crammed with customers that when I needed service on my laptop, it was much quicker to mail the thing in and have it repaired. 4 days versus the store estimate of 10 days. So the only reason I buy anything there is convenience.
Joe Murray
Edit at Joe’s
Charlotte, NC -
I’ve bought my last 4 Macs through the Apple on-line store. The best deals can be found in the Refurb section. No problems with any of them.
https://store.apple.com/us/browse/home/specialdeals/mac?mco=MTMzNTY
Ernie Santella
Santella Productions Inc.
http://www.santellaproductions.com -
[Dean Stapleton] “Is the Apple Store the best place to buy a Mac system in your opinion? Am I going to get a better price somewhere else or can I expect to pay the same thing anywhere I shop?”
Ok, you’re the one coming from Sony Vegas, right? Purchase your entire system from a VAR, as in Value Added Reseller. A good national one is ProMax. An excellent one in the southeast is WH Platts (where I buy all my gear).
I switched from Media 100 to FCP in 2001 and had no idea how to properly configure an FCP system. So I purchased the entire system from ProMax. Best decision I ever made. Not only did I have a system up and running on day one, I also go 1 year of phone tech support from them. I simply told them what I needed (a system capable of uncompressed SD editing) and they did the rest.
It will cost you more up front to get a pre-configured system, but it will cost you less in the long run in frustration and downtime. Can’t recommend a VAR enough for your first FCP system.
Oh and I highly recommend you go with AJA video boards, such as the Kona series or the Io HD. Best in the business and incredible tech support.
Walter Biscardi, Jr.
Biscardi Creative Media
HD and SD Production for Broadcast and Independent Productions.STOP STARING AND START GRADING WITH APPLE COLOR Apple Color Training DVD available now!
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I second Walter’s AJA praise, their Customer Support is the best.
Depending on how much of a techie you are, I might disagree with his
VAR recommendation. There is so much info at this forum, at AJA’s site, at the RAM makers (Crucial, etc.) that it doesn’t take rocket surgery (I love that phrase) to put together a kick-ass system. If you have certain software or hardware there can be conflicts, but again, you can find all the answers here and other support sites. Except for my very first 840AV I’ve never used a VAR, and have never had a problem I couldn’t find the answer to quickly. Depends on your geek factor though.
My office is right down the road from Small Dog headquarters here in Vermont, and although I buy things there occasionally and the tech guys are helpful, I didn’t want to buy my PB from them a few years ago (long story). I called Apple, told them what I wanted, told them I would rather buy from them than Small Dog, but SD’s price was lower, and Apple matched it. Now it seems to be official Apple policy (for now at least).
Ed -
BTW, Barefeats.com just linked to this new site about configuring Macs. It’s one of many helpful DIY sites.
Edhttps://macperformanceguide.com/
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[Dean Stapleton] “Is the Apple Store the best place to buy a Mac system in your opinion? Am I going to get a better price somewhere else or can I expect to pay the same thing anywhere I shop?”
The key word here is ‘system’.
Apple will sell you the box – Mac Pro, whatever – and do it for pretty much the same price as anyone else, as they strictly control the prices dealers can offer.
However, Mac (at least in Europe) are a waste of time when it comes to ‘systems’. One major broadcaster I work for recently loaned our production a laptop edit they had been sold BY APPLE. It came with a Canopus analogue/RCA input/output box that was a) not fit for broadcast and b) no use whatsoever with the Sony EX-1 camera it came with, as it only inputs and outputs DV video. Useless.
So: 1. They don’t know what they’re talking about. Good luck finding a ‘pro’ at an Apple store who can answer any questions about FCP – never found one at the UK’s ‘flagship’ store in Regent’s Street.
However – 2. If you can’t save much on the box, you can save LOADS on the system. You will save chiefly on RAM and drives, both of which Apple (although better than they were) charge a ridiculous amount for. Any good reseller will look to shave money off the price of EVERY component in your bundle. Also, never take the first offered price – get another quote, and trade a couple off against each other – if you don’t save $500 right away, you’re not doing it right.
Although I’m UK based, I’ve also used ProMax (when I came to the US last – I had them sell me a system for cheaper than the UK and took it back with me. I miss that exchange rate…) and they are EXCELLENT. I’ve used good ones in the UK, but Promax actually soak test all the gear and configure it all properly – they know their stuff. They are the best reseller I have dealt with worldwide, so far.
As Walter says, you can’t go wrong with AJA, but if you don’t want every bell and whistle (and simultaneous SD and HD playback is the biggie for me) the Blackmagic gear is also excellent, and generally half the price. I could not fault them for support either, although your mileage may vary – I went through 3 Kona LH cards on an installation a couple of years ago which were faulty, and I switched to BM. Bottom line – both are good products, speak to your reseller about what you actually NEED, not what people on here will sell you.
I now deal with an excellent reseller in the UK, who ship next day and offer their own version of AppleCare for half the money. The last Apple refurb Mac Pro I bought never worked out of the box – although it rattled with a number of loose screws. Never again.
If you want an Macbook, go to an Apple store. If you want a ‘system’ go to a professional – Especially for your first one.
Ben
Edit Out Ltd
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FCP Editor/Trainer/System Consultant
EVS/VT Supervisor for live broadcast
RED camera transfer/post
Independent Director/Producer
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